Lockdown in THIS country soon? Schools shut for one week, authorities on HIGH alert, its not Japan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the name is…

New Delhi: The Malaysian authorities have directed schools to shut down and asked students across the country to stay home for a week amid the concerning spike in influenza infections. As per the South China Morning Post report, citing the Education Ministry, nearly 100 clusters of influenza A and B have been reported.

After the sharp rise in the cases, precautionary closures of the schools have been order just weeks before the national Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination — a critical school-leaving test taken by around 400,000 students.

Education Ministry Director-General Mohd Azam Ahmad told SCMP said the decision was made following advice from district health officials. “Several schools have been instructed to close to contain the spread of the virus,” he said. He further added that approximately 6,000 students are affected by the closures so far.

Here are some of the key details:

• The ministry has not announced when it will review school closures or allow students to return to class
• Nearly 100 influenza clusters continue to spread across the country.
• Health authorities currently recommend a five to seven-day self-quarantine for those infected.
• Education Ministry Director-General Mohd Azam Ahmad said schools across Malaysia have been asked to implement strict preventive and control measures to curb the outbreak.
• The current influenza wave is among the most widespread viral outbreaks Malaysia has faced since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic

“We have reminded schools to follow these guidelines, encouraging the use of face masks and reducing large group activities among students,” SCMP quoted Mohd Azam as saying to national news agency Bernama.